The Fellowship of Lifea Christian-based vegetarian group founded in 1973

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Letters

Examine our consciences over ethical eating

AMONGST the throngs of American supporters who greeted Pope John Paul
II at St. Louis earlier this month were a handful of delegates from the
US animal rights group PETA. Fresh from the success of persuading the
Dalai Lama of Tibet to become vegetarian, campaigners arranged for a
veggie bill-board to be positioned along a route which the Pope was
twice scheduled to pass. Obviously he would be a prized convert!

The central question that most followers of Christ would ask is why
target the Pope? After all, from what we know of Jesus he was no obvious
role model for their lifestyle. Yet a 20th century reader of the Gospel
in the developed world is blessed with choices unattainable to the
inhabitants of first century Palestine. It is said that from those to
whom much has been given, much is expected. This ethic remains relevant
when pushing a supermarket trolley that could be filled 10 times over
without recourse to animal flesh. A vegetarian Christian has to point to
the wider spirit of the Gospel to support their beliefs, in the same way
that Christians opposed to human slavery had to do so in the past. There
will always be a host of pressing moral issues that Christ simply does
not legislate upon in the Gospel. As Biblical people we should be moving
voluntarily towards the promised age of non-violence envisaged by the
Prophets. This is God's original vision and ultimate hope.